Summary
The PAC Strategy Senior Principal Engineer serves as a recognized technical leader within SRP's Protection, Automation, and Control (PAC) Strategy department, responsible for shaping and implementing strategic initiatives that modernize and optimize SRP's PAC systems. This role drives innovation in substation operational technology, enabling a flexible, data-driven grid that supports inverter-based resources (IBR) integration, and ensures safe, reliable electricity delivery. The position combines advanced engineering expertise with leadership in standards development, compliance, and technology integration to align with SRP's corporate strategies.
What You'll Do
- Lead Strategic Initiatives: Define and execute PAC strategy roadmaps, including modernization projects, substation virtualization, and integration of IBRs.
- Technology Leadership: Act as a subject matter expert (SME) in advanced technologies such as IEC 61850, synchrophasors, centralized protection & control, and virtualized PAC systems (vPAC).
- Project & Program Management: Manage large-scale projects and programs with full technical and budgetary responsibility.
- Standards & Compliance: Develop and maintain technical standards, ensure compliance with NERC O&P and CIP requirements, and lead cybersecurity and vulnerability assessments.
- Research & Development: Evaluate emerging technologies in SRP's Technology Innovation Lab and recommend solutions to enhance PAC systems.
- Collaboration & Representation: Serve on industry committees (EPRI, NATF, IEEE, etc.) and represent SRP in technical forums, regulatory matters, and external organizations.
- Mentorship & Training: Develop and train engineers on technical best practices, project management, and strategic initiatives.
- Thought Leadership: Drive organizational change, foster innovation, and influence SRP's vision for a modern, intelligent grid.
Education
Completion of a bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET accredited curriculum, an International Engineering Alliance (IEA) recognized institution, ABET Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) or any state or internationally recognized PE registration.
Experience
14 years minimum professional experience actively engaged in engineering plus professional recognition. Must have demonstrated the successful accomplishment of work as defined for this position. Authored internal and/or external technical papers.
Highly Preferred Skills
- Transmission and distribution systems, substation design, and protection and control (P&C) systems.
- Protective relaying settings calculation, analysis, and coordination.
- Proficiency with system analysis tools (ASPEN, ETAP, SKM, PSS/E, PSLF).
- IEC 61850 standard and digital substation.
- SCADA, real-time control, or industrial networking.
- NERC O&P and CIP standards.
- Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to influence across organizational levels.
- Excellent communication skills for technical presentations and stakeholder engagement.
- Virtualization, edge computing, or software-defined networking for energy applications.
- Virtual machines, containerization, and cloud-native architectures.
- Distributed energy resource (DER) integration, microgrids, or grid flexibility solutions.
- Energy storage systems, inverter-based resources (IBR), and real-time grid analytics.
SRP
Arizona United States
www.srpnet.com
